Minister Yennun Huang of the Ministry of Digital Affairs (the MODA) participated in the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) Ministerial Meeting in New York on September 23 (local time), engaging in dialogue with ministerial representatives on human rights-based global AI governance. The meeting featured speeches by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp, Estonian Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna, and Colombian Minister of Information Technologies and Communications Mauricio Lizcano, among others. FOC member state representatives, civil society organizations, and senior United Nations Human Rights Council officials also participated in the discussions. In his speech, Secretary Blinken called for collaboration to defend internet freedom and protect human rights in the digital age, expressing satisfaction with the growing membership of FOC, which recently welcomed Cape Verde, Colombia, and Slovenia and explicitly mentioning Taiwan's participation as an observer.

Minister Huang sat alongside senior officials, including German Minister of State Tobias Lindner, French Digital Ambassador Henri Verdier, and Georgian First Deputy Foreign Minister Lasha Darsalia, discussing how governments, the private sector, and civil society can establish AI
governance frameworks based on international human rights standards, accelerate the achievement of UN Sustainable Development Goals, and address FOC's principles of promoting inclusivity and bridging the digital divide. Minister Huang emphasized that ethical principles such as accountability, transparency, fairness, privacy, and security are essential for AI development, as they enhance social trust in AI and ensure its long-term development. He urged global cooperation to address the potential risks posed by AI.

During his visit, Minister Huang also attended the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs reception and Google's AI for Global UNGA Reception, where he discussed with global tech experts and scholars how AI technologies can tackle global challenges, particularly in areas like climate change, education, and public health. Minister Huang emphasized Taiwan's commitment to ensuring technological progress meets both technical requirements and ethical and social responsibilities, actively participating in global tech cooperation to address future challenges with international partners.

Additionally, on September 23, Minister Huang was invited to attend the Taiwan Friendship Night reception hosted by the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in New York and chaired by Ambassador Alexander Tah-Ray YUI of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office in the United States. He engaged with allied political figures to strengthen international cooperation and friendship in the digital domain. Minister Huang highlighted that Taiwan's growing expertise in digital governance, cybersecurity, and AI technology is gaining global recognition. The reception built bridges for technological exchange between Taiwan and other countries and demonstrated Taiwan's commitment to technological innovation and digital governance on the international stage.

The MODA stated that during the visit, the delegation engaged with several tech companies and participated in three critical international meetings covering topics such as AI, satellite communications, cloud data centers, and cybersecurity. This strengthened Taiwan-US cooperation in the digital field and demonstrated Taiwan's AI and digital technologies capabilities.

Looking ahead, the MODA will continue to promote relevant policies and international cooperation to foster responsible governance and innovative applications in AI, cybersecurity, and satellite communications between Taiwan and the US While driving the digital transformation of industries, government, society, and the economy, the MODA is dedicated to ensuring that technological development meets public expectations for human rights, ethical standards, transparency, security, and privacy, positioning Taiwan as a competitive player in the global digital arena.